Download Geographic Understandings of Latin America and the

Geographic Understandings of Latin America and the Caribbean
Geography is the study of the earth’s surface, people, cultures, climate, and so on. This chapter
examines the geography of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Latin America includes a number of countries and regions. Mexico, Central America, South
America, and Caribbean nations make up Latin America. They share similar histories and cultures.
Spanish is often the official language. Portuguese is the official language in Brazil. A form of French
known as Creole is spoken in Haiti. English is the official language in a few places like Jamaica.
The Caribbean includes those nations that are located in the Caribbean Sea. Cuba, Jamaica, and
Haiti are all parts of the Caribbean.
KEY BODIES OF WATER
The Gulf of Mexico borders eastern Mexico and the southeast United States. A gulf is a large
body of water surrounded on three sides by land. The Gulf of Mexico provides Mexico with access to
the Atlantic Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean borders western North America and South America. It is the largest ocean in
the world. For centuries, people in the Americas have relied on the Pacific Ocean for trade, livelihood,
and exploration.
The Caribbean Sea lies southeast of North America and northeast of South America. It is home
to a number of island nations. Because of the Caribbean’s tropical climate, these island nations attract
millions of tourists every year.
The Amazon River is the second-longest river in the world. Only the Nile River in Africa is
longer. For centuries, people in northern and central South America have relied on the Amazon. Its
many tributaries (smaller waterways that run into the river) provide important water routes, connecting
inland regions of the country to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Panama Canal is a human-made waterway stretching across a portion of Panama. It allows
ships to travel back and forth between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans without having to sail around
South America.
MOUNTAINS, DESERTS, AND RAINFORESTS
The Sierra Madre Mountains are an important mountain range in Mexico. The Sierra Madre
Occidental covers much of western Mexico, while the Sierra Madre Oriental stretches across eastern
Mexico. It between lies Mexico’s central plateau.
The Andes Mountains are some of the highest mountains on earth. They form the longest
running mountain range in the world. They stretch more than 4,500 miles along the west coast of South
America.
A desert is a geographic region that receives less than ten inches of rainfall per year. The
Atacama Desert lies in northern Chile. It is one of the driest places on earth.
South America is home to the Amazon Rainforest. A rainforest is a forest area that has thick
vegetation and receives over sixty-five inches of rain a year. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the
world. It is home to many different forms of vegetation and species of wildlife.
NATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
MEXICO
Mexico borders the southern United States. It is the northernmost country of Latin America.
Like most of Latin America, Mexico’s official language is Spanish. However, a number of indigenous
languages (languages spoken before Europeans arrive) are still common in rural areas.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America is made up of several small countries. They are actually part of the continent of
North America. The region is called Central America because it lies within a narrow strip of land that
connects North America to South America.
Panama is one of the countries in Central America. It is home to the Panama Canal, which
connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
COLOMBIA
Colombia is in the northwest corner of South America. Its west coast runs the Pacific Ocean,
while its northern coast runs along the Caribbean Sea. To its east is Venezuela and to the south are
Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.
Like other countries in northern South America, Colombia’s climate is mostly tropical because it
is close to the equator. Temperatures range from very hot in the lower regions, to cold and snowcovered areas in the Andes Mountains. Rainfall ranges depending on location. The peninsula region of
northern Colombia receives less than fifty inches per year. Rainforest regions of the southeast usually
receive over two hundred inches.
VENEZUELA
Venezuela lies in the northern South America and borders Colombia, Guyana, and Brazil. To its
north is the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela’s climate is similar to Colombia’s climate.
BOLIVIA
Bolivia lies in central South America. It is bordered by Peru to the northwest, Brazil to the north
and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and Chile to the west. It is a landlocked country,
meaning that it does not border a sea or ocean. Its western highlands are part of the Andes Mountains,
while its eastern lowlands lie in the Amazon Rainforest.
BRAZIL
Brazil is the largest country in South America. It borders every South American nation except
Chile and Ecuador. Its coastline hugs the Atlantic Ocean and is over 4,500 miles long (longer than the
distance between Georgia and California). Because it was once colonized by Portugal, its official
language is Portuguese. Brazil is home to most of the Amazon Rainforest.
Brazil has tropical and temperate zones. Its tropical zone lies close to the Equator, receives lots
of rainfall each year, and remains very hot and humid. Its temperate zone lies farther south and
experiences a subtropical climate. It has colder temperatures in the winter at higher elevations. Like
many other nations, Brazil has wet and dry seasons.
CUBA
Cuba is an island nation roughly ninety miles south of Florida. It is surrounded by the Gulf of
Mexico to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its official
language is Spanish.
Cuba’s climate is tropical, with the winter months being much drier than the late spring through
the fall. Most of the main island is rolling plains, with mountains existing along its southeastern portion.
HAITI
Haiti shares an island with the Dominican Republic. It used to be a French colony until the early
1800s. French remains one of the country’s official languages. Haiti’s other official language is Creole (a
mixture of French and African languages). Over eighty percent of Haiti’s population is made up of black
descendants of African slaves. The country is extremely poor. It is the least economically developed
nation in North and South America.